6 Fiduciary Duties of a Real Estate Agent

The relationship between a real estate agent and a client is called a fiduciary relationship. Fiduciary means faithful servant, and an agent is a fiduciary of the client. In real estate, a broker or a salesperson can be the agent of a seller or a buyer.

Here's a list of the fiduciary duties that an agent owes her client.

Accounting: The agent must account for all funds entrusted to her and not commingle (combine) client/customer funds with her personal and /or business funds.

Care: The agent must use all of her skills to the best of her ability on behalf of the client.

Confidentiality: The agent must keep confidential any information given to her by her client, especially information that may be damaging to the client in a negotiation.

Disclosure: The agent must disclose to the client any information she receives that may benefit the client's position in a negotiation.

Loyalty: The agent owes undivided loyalty to the client and puts the client's interests above her own.

Obedience: The agent must obey all lawful orders that the client gives her.